'MLB The Show 19': 5 Major Takeaways From Road To The Show Stream And New Legends Revealed

On Thursday, the developer team at San Diego Studio streamed and revealed more information about the upcoming MLB The Show 19. The stream focused almost exclusively on the Road to the Show mode, as well as offering two more legend reveals.

Here is a breakdown of the information shared on Thursday.

The New Archetype Structure Proves the Devs Listened to Fans

RTTS Archetype

Credit: Sony San Diego

Most MLB The Show fans that I've talked to didn't like having attribute caps on their players. They wanted to be able to max their RTTS character's abilities in every category. Thankfully, this freedom has been given back to gamers, but smartly, Sony has made it more difficult, but not impossible for some archetypes to upgrade their weaknesses.

For example, Pure Power guys will find it more difficult to upgrade their speed. On the other side of the spectrum, the Small Ball player will have more of an issue upgrading their power numbers. Pitchers also have archetypes and similar limitations.

I don't think there is a better way to generate balance in the RTTS mode.

Relationships and Personality Types Have Me Skeptical

When creating your RTTS character this year, you can choose if the player will be a Lightning Rod, Maverick, Captain or Heart and Soul. These designations are personality types that helped to craft your development on the social and mental aspects of your journey as a professional baseball player.

I've seen these kinds of elements in a sports game several times, and most often, the impact is minimal and it winds up being something we ignore. I'm hoping this turns out to be something more, or else it risks being a worthless added feature.

The New In-Game Challenges Are Interesting

Periodically, your player will be faced with a game-specific, multiple-choice challenge. You might come to the plate with runners on first and third and one out, and have to choose between drive in a run, drive in two runs or hit a three-run home run.

The bigger the task, the greater the reward, but you get to choose which challenge you'll take. Per the stream, these challenges won't pop up every game, but when they do, it sounds like something that will add variety to the game. There are also Boss Battles, which is essentially head-to-head matchups with elite hitters or pitchers during the flow of a game.

Within the RTTS structure, I love this concept.

Transfer and Adapt Your MLB The Show 18 RTTS Character

No other sports video game franchise has made it easier to pick up your journey from the last version. In MLB The Show 19, you can still transfer your RTTS character from MLB The Show 18, and the game also allows you to adopt the new archetype system without losing any of the progress you've made in the last game.

That's consumer-focused.

Mini Games

Interactive training exists in RTTS. The streamed showed off a PCI trainer as well as a Guitar Hero-like game along with a weightlifting and memory exercise. I've asked for this in the past, and I'm happy to see it added to the new game. I hope it's also an option in franchise mode for individual player training.

New Legends

Former Atlanta Braves centerfielder and 10-time Gold Glove winner Andruw Jones is one of the new legends added. More than likely, his 51-HR 2005 season will be used for Diamond Dynasty. Along with Jones, Washington Senators old-time great Walter "Big Train" Johnson was revealed.

I like the classic players, but some of the younger generations felt underwhelmed. The chat got a bit spicy during Johnson's reveal. In any case, the more legends, the better.